Palestinian factions call for demonstrations in solidarity with Al-Aqsa on Friday

July 26, 2017 10:39 P.M. (Updated: July 27, 2017 10:44 A.M.)

(File)

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- National and Islamic factions called for Palestinians to perform prayers in public squares across the occupied Palestinian territory on Friday and to escalate protests against the Israeli occupation in solidarity with the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Following a deadly shooting at Al-Aqsa in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem on July 14, Israeli authorities installed heightened security measures at Al-Aqsa,sparking a widespread civil disobedience campaign among local Palestinians, who have been met with violent repression at the hands of Israeli forces.

Palestinian worshipers have refused to submit themselves to the new security measures, choosing instead to pray in the streets outside of Al-Aqsa.

Palestinians have said the new Israeli move was the latest example of Israeli authorities using Israeli-Palestinian violence as a means of furthering control over important sites in the occupied Palestinian territory and normalizing repressive measures against Palestinians.

The Israeli security cabinet decided on Monday night to remove the recently installed metal detectors at Al-Aqsa, only to replace them with more advanced surveillance technology in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem -- a move which has been denounced by Knesset member and Palestinian citizen of Israel Jamal Zahalqa as “a new provocation.”